He told parliament that some of the provisions in the proposed amendment required the approval of the people.

De Silva noted that the government had initially said the proposed constitutional reforms would be done in a manner it would require only a two thirds majority in parliament and not a referendum.

According to the Opposition Leader, the government seems to have deviated from the initial pledge and a referendum would therefore need to be held.

“Certain clauses of the bill overlap each other,"’De Silva, who is also a lawyer by profession, has said in the House.